Integrated disposable toothbrush including a detachable toothpaste cartridge

ABSTRACT

A combined disposable toothbrush and detachable toothpaste cartridge includes a hollow cylindrical handle portion having opposed proximal and distal bases and a cylindrical sidewall disposed therebetween, the proximal each base having an axial recess, an exterior surface of the proximal base proportioned for engagement between a thumb and a finger of a user, the distal base including an outlet passage, a threaded rod having a proximal end rigidly secured within the recess of the proximal base; a cylindrical push block having a circumferential surface in fluid-tight frictional communication with an inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall and having an axial channel in thread-fit co-action with the threaded rod; and a detachable brush portion having, at a distal end thereof, a head including brushing bristles and an internal channel extending longitudinally and having an outlet in communication with the brushing bristles; and a coupling for selectably attaching and detaching a distal end of the handle portion to a proximal end of the brush portion, in which the brush portion may be readily changed when the system is used by a different user within a household, and the handle portion may be detached and disposed of upon exhaustion of the supply of dentifrice therein, and its replacement by an unused handle portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to toothbrushes and, more particularly, pertains to a new combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser for selectably combining different toothbrush heads with toothpaste cartridges into a single compact unit.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Toothbrushes are of course well known in the prior art. More specifically, toothbrushes heretofore utilized are known to consist of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, this including the myriad of designs encompassed by the longstanding prior art which been developed for the fulfillment of numerous objectives and requirements.

[0005] It is, however, only in limited art in which a toothpaste dispenser, toothpaste cartridge, or other means for holding and dispensing toothpaste are actually integrated into the handle of a toothbrush. Such prior art is reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,035 (1977) to Wu, entitled Automatic Tooth-paste-supplying Toothbrush, U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,622 (1987) to Booth, entitled Combined Toothbrush and Toothpaste Dispenser, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,996 (1999) to Coolbaugh, entitled Combination Toothbrush and Toothpaste Dispenser.

[0006] Such prior art, while teaching integration of a toothpaste dispenser into a toothbrush typically results in a so-called throwaway or disposable structure in which the entire unit is disposed of after the supply of toothpaste of the toothpaste dispenser has become exhausted. Also, the toothbrush head, because of the typically integral nature of all components of such prior art, is not separable from the toothpaste dispensing and containing handle thereof. Accordingly, such structures are not adaptable to family or multi person use in that a single toothbrush head is integrated within the handle of such system.

[0007] To the knowledge of the within inventor, only one reference, namely, U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,563 (1986) to Turner, entitled Combined Toothbrush and Toothpaste Dispenser, teaches a structure in which it is possible to separate a toothbrush head from a toothpaste containing handle thereof. Accordingly, the instant invention may be viewed as a direct improvement of the teaching of said Turner. More specifically, the invention improves over Turner in the teaching and improved toothpaste-dispensing handle and in an improved means of control of the fluid flow characteristics of toothpaste or dentifrice which is advanced from a toothpaste cartridge to a toothbrush head of an integrated structure. Also, the invention particularly addresses the needs of multiple users and of travelers requiring to pack toothbrushes of the instant type in a more space efficient fashion. It is accordingly in response to such needs in the prior art of combined toothbrushes and toothpaste dispensers that the invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention is directed to a combined disposable toothbrush and detachable toothpaste cartridge which more particularly comprises a hollow cylindrical handle portion including opposed proximal and distal base and a cylindrical sidewall disposed therebetween, the proximal end base having an axial recess therein, and an exterior surface of said base proportioned for engagement between a thumb and a finger of a user, the distal base including an outlet passage therein. Said cylindrical handle portion further includes a threaded rod having a proximal end rigidly secured within said recess of the proximal base. The handle portion further includes a cylindrical push block having a circumferential surface in fluid-tight frictional communication with an inner surface of said cylindrical sidewall and having an axial channel in thread-fit co-action with said threaded rod. The handle portion yet further includes a paste-like dentifrice disposed between said push block and said distal base, in which rotation of said proximal base by the user rotates said threaded rod to advance said push block thereby urging said dentifrice through said outlet passage of the distal base of the handle portion. The inventive system also includes a detachable brush portion comprising, at a distal end thereof, a head including brushing bristles and an internal channel extending longitudinally therethrough and having an outlet in communication with said bristles. The system further includes coupling means for selectably attaching and detaching a distal end of said handle portion to a proximal end of said brush portion. Resulting, said brush portion of the system may be readily changed when the system is used by a different user within a household. Said handle portion may be detached and disposed of upon exhaustion of the supply of dentifrice therewithin, followed by the replacement thereof by an unused handle portion. In a preferred embodiment, a one-way valve is integrally disposed in or otherwise formed within, an inlet to said internal channel within said brush portion.

[0009] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a toothbrush having a self-contained and disposable toothpaste dispenser within the handle thereof.

[0010] It is another object to provide a system of the above type that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed at low cost to the consumer.

[0011] It is a yet further object of the invention to provide an integrated toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser of the above type which is of a durable and reliable construction.

[0012] A still further object is to provide a system of the above type which is adaptable to low cost to manufacture with regard to both materials and labor and which accordingly can result in a low retail price to the consuming public.

[0013] It is a still further object to provide a combination system of the above type particularly adapted for the needs of multiple users and travellers.

[0014] The above and yet other objects and advantage of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and claims appended herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along Line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded view more particularly showing the components of the system of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal axial cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is an enlarged breakaway view of the encircled area within FIG. 5.

[0021]FIG. 7 is an assembly view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the manner of attachment of the head portion to the handle portion of the present system as it would exist for purposes of retail packaging and during travel by a user thereof.

[0023]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further, so-called family sized version of the inventive system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the present inventive system 10 may be seen to include a handle portion 12, a detachable brush portion 14, and coupling means 16, each of which are more particularly set forth below.

[0025] With respect to handle portion 12, the same may be seen to include a proximal base 18, a distal base 20, and a cylindrical sidewall 22 disposed therebetween. Within proximal base 18 is an axial recess 24 (see FIG. 4), the circumferential exterior surface of which is proportioned for engagement between a thumb and finger of a user. As may be noted in FIG. 4, said distal base 20 includes therein an outlet passage 26 which is substantially frustoconical in axial cross-section.

[0026] Handle portion 22 also includes a threaded rod 28 which is rigidly secured within said recess 24 of proximal base 18. It is, however, to be noted that said base 18 is not rigidly secured to said sidewalls 22 of the handle portion 12 thereby permitting its selectable rotation and, therewith, threaded rod 28 by a user of the present system.

[0027] With further reference to FIGS. 1 thru 4, handle portion 12 may be seen to include a cylindrical push block 30 having a lateral circumferential surface 32, at least one circumferential segment of which is in fluid-tight frictional communication with an inner surface 34 of said cylindrical side wall 22 of the handle portion 12. Push block 30 further includes an axial channel 36 (see FIG. 4) which is in thread-fit relationship to the threaded rod 28. As such, rotation of proximal base 18 by a user will case a paste-like dentifrice 38, disposed between push block 30 and distal base 20, to be advanced through outlet passage 26 upon rotation of proximal base 18 by the user. Therein, such rotation will cause threaded rod 28 to rotate thereby causing push block 30 to advance in the direction of the linear arrow in FIGS. 1 and 4, this due to the complemental thread-fit co-action between the threading upon threaded rod 28 and the internal threading within axial channel 36 of push block 30. Therein, the friction between circumferential surface 32 of push block 30 and inner surface 34 of side wall 22, taking into account the mass and dentifrice of dentifrice 38, are carefully balanced such that the axial component of force transmitted by the rotation of threaded rod 28 to the push block 30 is sufficient to cause advance of the dentifrice 38 toward outlet passage 26 of the distal base 20.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, said detachable brush portion 14 may be seen to include, at a distal end thereof, a head 40 which includes brushing bristles 42 wherein said brush portion includes an internal channel 44 having an outlet 46 in fluid communication with said brushing bristles 42.

[0029] At an inlet to said brush portion channel 44 is preferably provided a one-way valve 48, the internal structure of which is shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 6. Said one-way valve 48 is used in addition to connecting element 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The function of one-way valve 48 is to minimize outflow of the dentifrice through channel 44 after rotation of distal base 18 has stopped; that is, to counter the effect of the fluid inertia, i.e., the overflow problem, which historically has been a problem where a detachable toothpaste cartridge has been integrated into a toothbrush system.

[0030] As may be noted in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided said coupling means 16 to effect a selectable attachable and detachment of distal end 20 of the handle portion 12 from element 50 of the brush portion. It is also noted that, in a given embodiment, element 50 or, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, element 48, may be formed integrally with the bristle-containing part of the brush portion.

[0031] In view of the above, it is to be appreciated that there is taught a combined disposable toothbrush having a detachable toothpaste cartridge in which brush portion 14 thereof may be readily changed when the system is utilized by a different user within a household, and that said handle portion 12 may be detached and disposed of upon exhaustion of the supply of dentifrice 38 therein whereupon the disposed of handle portion 12 is replaced by a new unused handle portion. It is, as such, to be understood that the present system provides for both a disposable toothbrush portion and a replaceable toothpaste cartridge having the form of the above-described handle portion 12 of the invention.

[0032] With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, it is to be appreciated that a one-way valve 148 within coupling 116 taken in axial cross-section, defines a generally frustoconical geometry in which proximal inlet 132 is larger than a proximal outlet 154 thereof. Further, it is to be appreciated that one-way valve 148 may be variously disposed within the present system, that is, may be disposed within an inlet to the internal channel 44 of the brush portion or may be disposed within element 152, that is, within an outlet passage 132 of coupling 116 of the handle portion 112.

[0033] With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, taken in combination with FIGS. 7 and 8, there are shown various closure means 156 used to cover bristles 142 of the brush portion 114, said enclosure means intended for use during periods of non-use of the system. Also shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 is a cover means 158 which is integrally secured to element 116 through flexible member 160, the purpose of which is to afford a means of closure of an outlet of element 116 to render the handle portion as a self-contained toothpaste cartridge during periods of non-use as, for example, when the handle portion is a storage, inventory or is on display at a retail location and, as well, when the handle portion is in instances when the user has packed the system for purposes of travel. Also shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is a snap-clip attachment proportioned to receive brush portion 114 when the same has been removed from the handle portion. Therein, elements 150 will remain as a part of the handle portion. Accordingly, from the view of FIG. 8, it is to be appreciated that, when the system is to be placed in either a travel mode or a display mode for sale system at a retail location, bristle cover 156 and dentifrice cap 158 are placed into their closure modes.

[0034] Also shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a further geometry of a push block 130 which is substantially frustoconical in nature in which a proximal end thereof is larger than a distal end and wherein such proximal end represents the sole circumferential region of interface with the internal surface of the cylindrical sidewall of the handle portion 112.

[0035] With reference to FIG. 9, there is shown a so-called family or jumbo embodiment 200 of the present invention which does not differ in any material way from the embodiments of FIGS. 5 thru 8. More particularly, the jumbo embodiment of the present system is one which is not intended for travel. Accordingly, there is no snap-fit elements upon the sidewalls of the family embodiment 200. Further, the interface between handle portion 212 and detachable brush portion 214 is diagonal relative to the vertical axis defined by threaded rod 228.

[0036] While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the claims appended herewith. 

I claim:
 1. A system including a combined disposable toothbrush and detachable toothpaste cartridge, the system comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical handle portion comprising: (i) opposed proximal and distal bases and a cylindrical sidewall disposed therebetween, the proximal each base having an axial recess therein, an exterior surface of said proximal base proportioned for engagement between a thumb and a finger of a user, said distal base including an outlet passage therein; (ii) a threaded rod having a proximal end rigidly secured within said recess of said proximal base; (iii) a cylindrical push block having a circumferential surface in fluid-tight frictional communication with an inner surface of said cylindrical sidewall and having an axial channel in thread-fit co-action with said threaded rod; and (iv) a paste-like dentifrice disposed between said push block and said distal base, in which rotation of said proximal base by the user rotates said threaded rod to advance said push block thereby urging said dentifrice through said outlet passage of said distal base; (b) a detachable brush portion comprising, at a distal end thereof, a head including brushing bristles and an internal channel extending longitudinally therethrough and having an outlet in communication with said brushing bristles; and (c) coupling means for selectably attaching and detaching a distal end of said handle portion to a proximal end of said brush portion, whereby said brush portion thereof may be readily changed when said system is used by a different user within a household, and said handle portion may be detached and disposed of upon exhaustion of the supply of dentifrice therein, and replacement thereof by an unused handle portion.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a one-way valve integrally disposed within an inlet to said internal channel of said brush portion.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a one-way fluid valve integrally disposed within said coupling means.
 4. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a one-way fluid valve integrally disposed in fluid communication with said outlet passage of said distal base of said handle portion.
 5. The system as recited in claim 3, further comprising: selectable closure means for sealing said outlet passage of said distal base of said handle portion during periods of storage or nonuse of said system when said brush portion is separated therefrom.
 6. The system as recited in claim 5 further comprising: means for snap-clip attachment of said brush portion to said handle portion during periods of non-use of said system.
 7. The system as recited in claim 5 further comprising: means for selectable enclosure of said bristles of said head of said brush portion during periods of non-use of said system.
 8. The system as recited in claim 6 further comprising: means for selectable enclosure of said bristles of said head of said brush portion during periods of non-use of said system.
 9. The system as recited in claim 3 in which said push block of said handle portion defines a frustoconical segment having a larger base thereof positioned oppositely of said distal base of said handle portion.
 10. The system as recited in claim 3 in which said proximal base of said handle portion defines a knurled peripheral surface. 